On the occasion of World Environment Day, Mitsubishi Electric India deepened its ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative in collaboration with Earthwatch Institute India, focused on the conservation of waterbodies and water security in a changing climate. Having launched this initiative on World Environment Day last year, Mitsubishi Electric India has continued and expanded the programme into FY25-26, with the Chennai project site centred on Pulicat and its surrounding coastal villages.
To mark World Environment Day 2026, Mitsubishi Electric India organised an employee volunteer programme at Pulicat Lake, Kattur Village, Chennai, where employees joined local lake stewards, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Mangrove Club members, and fisherfolk communities for a mangrove sapling plantation drive, field visits to the restoration nursery, and live demonstrations of environmental monitoring technology; including an Automatic Weather Station and Air Quality Monitor deployed as part of the project, to gain first-hand understanding of the ecological importance of mangroves in protecting coastal ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and reducing soil erosion.
Beyond mangrove conservation, the programme has equipped women lake stewards to lead climate resilience efforts in their communities, organise clean-up drives targeting plastic waste around the lake and coastline, and conduct awareness sessions on pollution prevention and sustainable practices. Fisherfolk have been educated on responsible environmental practices; including the retrieval of abandoned fishing nets, avoidance of waste disposal into the lake, and the safe release of Olive Ridley turtles accidentally entangled in nets. Science-based educational resources developed for the programme explain, in accessible terms, how climate change, through rising temperatures, altered rainfall, storm surges, and salinity intrusion, impacts the lake ecosystem and the livelihoods that depend on it.
The project also integrates digital tools and technology into community conservation, developing digital field guides to support biodiversity observation around the lake, and introducing weather station and air quality monitoring tools to train climate stewards in understanding real-time environmental data and building science-informed adaptive responses.
“At Mitsubishi Electric India, we believe that sustainable environmental action must be rooted in the communities closest to nature,” said Mr. Atsushi Takase, Managing Director, Mitsubishi Electric India. “Pulicat is not just an ecological resource, it is a lifeline for the fishing communities and coastal villages that have depended on it for generations. Over the past year, we have seen local women, fisherfolk, and community groups take genuine ownership of its conservation. That grassroots momentum, strengthened by science-based tools and education, is what creates lasting resilience. We remain committed to deepening this work and to building a greener, more climate-resilient future for the communities in which we operate.”
The initiative is aligned with key national priorities including India’s National Water Mission, the Swachh Bharat Mission, and national Climate Action efforts. It also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The project’s location at Pulicat has been chosen for its proximity to Mitsubishi Electric India’s manufacturing operations in Chennai, ensuring strong local relevance and long-term community connection.
As part of Mitsubishi Electric India’s broader CSR efforts, the initiative addresses climate change and reflects the company’s long-standing commitment towards creating “Changes for the Better” through sustainable environmental action.